Method of and apparatus for handling cases



May 7, 1963 E. A. VERRINDER ETAL 3,088,574

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CASES Original Filed July 11, 19554 Sheets-Sheet l F'IE I INVENTORS ERNEST A. VERRINDER EARLE J. MCGRATHBY/W -W ATTORNEY M 7, 19 3 E. A. VERRINDER ETAL 3,088,574

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CASES Original Filed July 11, 19554 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'II3 2 '50 I C 409C SOOC INVENTORS ERNEST A. VERRINDEREARLE J. McGRATH BY W ATTORNEY May 7, 1963 E. A. VERRINDER ETAL3,088,574

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CASES Original Filed July 11, 19554 Sheets-Sheet 3 F'I I3 :EI

380D VA-D INVENTORS ERNEST A.VERRINDER EARLE J. McGRATH ATTORNEY y 7,1963 E; A. VERRINDER ETAL 3,088,574

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CASES Original Filed July 11, 19554 Sheets-Sheet 4 SW SM TIE C I= 953 I0] SC I05 954 955 956 957 958 959960 96| 962 SI 963 964 365 966 967 968 969 970 9'? I 972 SC IOG'I 984 821 .NVENTORS 9 2 5w ERNEST A. VERRINDER EARLE J. MC GRATH 9 2 y M A4ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention pertains to apparatus forhandling boxes, cases and the like and more particularly relates to animproved apparatus for loading cases on and removing cases from asupport surface, such as a pallet.

This application is a division of US. application Ser. No. 521,011,filed July 11, 1955 which issued as Patent 2,9933 15.

In present day processing plants pallets are used extensively forhandling both semi-finished and finished products. When the product isdisposed in cases, the cases can be stacked one on top of the other andseveral stacks can be arranged side-byside on the pallet. With such anarrangement, the cases can be economically and efficiently moved fromplace to place in the plant by means of a fork lift truck that has tineswhich are adapted to be inserted in or under the pallet to lift thepallet and the load of cases thereon.

In bottling plants, bottles are continuously being washed, filled andput in cases, and cases of full bottles are continuously being stackedon pallets for removal from the plant. Since cases of full bottles arequite heavy, it is difficult in a modern plant for men to continuouslystack full cases on pallets fast enough to keep up with the filling andeasing operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficientapparatus for unloading cases of bottles or the like from a pallet.

Another object is to provide means for shifting lines of stacks of casesbetween a pallet and a conveyor.

Another object is to provide improved conveying means for a palletloading machine.

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which the elements areautomatically controlled to carry out their individual functions in atimed and coordinated sequence.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan of the case handling machine of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of the hydraulic control circuitsused in the arrangement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical control systemused in the arrangement of FIG. 1.

Modified Arrangement N0. 1

In FIG. 1 the novel arrangement of case handling machines of the presentinvention is illustrated. The various elements used in this arrangementare substantially identical to those disclosed in the above-mentionedparent application Serial No. 521,011 now Patent 2,993,315 and referencemay be had to said patent for a complete description of the structureand operation of any element that is not completely describedhereinafter. In this arrangement, a pallet loading machine 850 ispositioned in substantially parallel, spaced relation to a palletunloading machine 851. A conveyor 852, arranged to discharge palletsloaded by the loading machine 858, is disposed between the stacker unit853 of the pallet loader and the unstacker unit 854 of the palletunloader. A conveyor section 857, which serves as both the pallet "ice$4 unloading station and the pallet loading station, is positionedbetween a stack conveyor 858 of the loading machine and a stack conveyor859 of the unloading machine, while a conveyor section 860, which isarranged to deliver pallets loaded with cases of empty bottles, islocated forwardly of the conveyor section 857.

In operation, a pallet, loaded with stacks of cases of empty bottles, isdeposited by a fork lift truck on the pallet delivery conveyor 860. Theconveyor 860 moves the pallet onto the conveyor sec-tion 857 Where itengages switch SW90 and is stopped in lateral alignment with a ram 864of the loading machine. The pallet loading machine 850 is started and,when a line of stacks of cases of full bottles is formed on the stackconveyor 858, the ram 864 is actuated to shift the line onto the pallet,moving one line of stacks of cases of empty bottles from the pallet ontothe unloader stack conveyor 859, which then delivers the stacks one byone into the unstacker unit 854. When the second line of stacks of casesof full bottles is formed by the pallet loading machine 850, the ramshifts it onto the pallet, forcing the remaining line of stacks of casesof empty bottles onto the unstacker conveyor 859. Since the pallet isthen loaded with cases of full bottles, it is conveyed onto the palletdischarge conveyor 852 for delivery to a pickup station.

The pallet loader 850 comprises the stacking unit 853 which issubstantially identical to the stacker-unstacker unit disclosed in theabove-mentioned Patent 2,993,315 and comprises a fork carriage 866, afork 867 mounted on the carriage, a power cylinder 868 for raising thefork carriage, case-supporting blades 869 controlled by solenoids 870, apivotal paddle 871 arranged to actuate a switch SW85, and a plurality ofelectric control switches SW81, SW82, SW83 and SW84 (not shown) mountedat certain locations throughout the unit. The stacker unit 853 isarranged to receive cases one at a time from a full case conveyor 875which comprises an endless chain section 876 and a live roll section877. Both sections of the conveyor are driven by a motor 878, the liveroll section being driven at a faster speed than the endless chainsection. The live roll section has a plurality of rollers 888, which liebetween the fingers of the fork 867, the top surfaces of the rollersbeing above the top of the fingers when the fork is in its loweredposition. Movement of cases along the conveyor 875 is controlled by astop bar 882 which is spring-urged upwardly to a latched, case-arrestingposition and is connected to a solenoid 883 in such a way that, when thesolenoid is energized, the stop bar actuating mechanism is unlatched,permitting the bar to drop by gravity.

After a stack is formed in the stacker unit, it is deposited on thestack conveyor 858 which comprises an endless chain section 885 and alive roll section 886 both driven by motor 887. The chain section 885has an upper run extending into the stacker unit at a level slightlybelow the level of the tops of the rollers of the case delivery conveyorsection 877 but above the tops of the fingers of the fork when the forkis in lowered position. Electric switches SW88, SW86 and SW87 aremounted to extend into the path of a stack of cases being advanced alongthe stack conveyor 858. A pair of fixed stops 890 stop the first stackof cases. The second and third stacks come to rest against the precedingstack. The ram 864 is moved, by means of a power screw 892, from aposition contacting switch SW89, transversely over the stack conveyorsection 886 to push a line of stacks of cases off the stack conveyor andonto the pallet P (shown in dot-dash lines) that is loaded with stacksof cases of empty bottles, and has been positioned against a stop bar893 on the conveyor section 857 by the conveyor 868. The bar 893 isarranged to be moved to and from a position in the path of the pallet bymeans of a solenoid 894. The

power screw $92 is suitably journalled in a stationary frame 892a and isoperatively connected to the ram 864 to cause movement of the ram uponrotation of the screw. A sprocket 395 is keyed to the end of the screwand is arranged to be driven through a suitable power driven chain 896from a reversible motor 896A. A switch SW93 is positioned to be actuatedby the ram carriage, a switch SW91 is mounted on a traversing conveyor$97 to be actuated by one of the cases that is shifted onto theconveyor, a switch SW92 is positioned to be contacted by the traversingconveyor in the load position adjacent the pallet, and a switch SW94 ispositioned to be contacted by the traversing conveyor when it is alignedwith the unstacker unit 854.

The unloading machine 851 comprises the unstacker unit 854, a forkcarriage 901, a fork 901a, a power cylinder 902 for raising the forkcarriage, case-supporting blades 9&3 controlled by solenoids 994, apivotable paddle 995 arranged to actuate a switch SW95, and a pluralityof other switches SW96, SW97, SW98, SW99 and Swim) (not shown). Theunstacker unit 354 is arranged to discharge cases one at a time onto acase discharge conveyor 998 which is similar to the live roll section877 of the full case delivery conveyor. The discharge conveyor 9% has aplurality of belt-driven rollers 910 disposed between the fingers of thefork 901a at a slightly higher level than the level of the fingers whenthe fork is in its lowered position. The portion of the dischargeconveyor that is under the fork 90111 is pivotally mounted for downwardmovement and is operatively connected to the paddle 995 so that, whenthe paddle is pivoted downwardly by a stack of cases on the stackconveyor 859, the movable part of the discharge conveyor will be movedto a lower level than the level of the stack conveyor 859 to permit thestack conveyor to bring the stack into the unstacker unit.

The stack conveyor 859 of the unloading machine 851 comprises an endlesschain section 914 driven by a motor 915 and the live roller traversingconveyor section 897 which'is driven by a motor 918. The endless chainsection 914 has an upper run extending into the unstacker unit at alevel below the normal level of the rollers 910 but above the level ofthe rollers when they are depressed by the paddle 995. The traversingconveyor 897 comprises a plurality of spaced parallel rollers 9.02journalled in a rigid frame 921 which, in turn, is mounted for lateral,sliding movement on a pair of stationary rods 923. A double acting powercylinder 925 is operatively connected to the frame 921 to move thetraversing conveyor section 897 from a position in line with the endlesschain section 914 to a position in contact with the switch SW92 andclosely adjacent the central conveyor section 857 to receive a line ofstacks of cases therefrom.

The pallet discharge conveyor 852 comprises a pair of endless chains 927driven by a motor 929 in a direction to carry loaded pallets away fromthe pallet loading and unloading station. The pallet delivery conveyorcomprises the endless chain section 860 and the roller section 857. Thesection 860 comprises a pair of chains 933 trained around idlersprockets 934 and drive sprockets 935 that are keyed to a shaft 936driven by a motor 937. The roller section 857 comprises a plurality ofinterconnected rollers 940' driven by a drive chain 942 which is trainedaround a pulley on the drive shaft 936.

The hydraulic circuit, employed by the pallet loading machine 850 ofFIG. 1, is illustrated in FIG. 2. This circuitis identical to a portionof the hydraulic circuit which is shown in FIG. '25 of said Patent2,993,315 and used in the combination unloader-loader of FIG. 1 of thatpatent.

When the pump 107C is operating, fluid under pressure is directedthrough line 500C-501C to port 404C of control valve VB-C. When the forkraising solenoid 396C is energized, fluid is directed throughcross-passage 414C and line 595C to the fork power cylinder 868 to raisethe fork carriage 866. When the fork lowering solenoid 3950 isenergizedfthe fork power cylinder 868 is drained and pressurized fluidis directed through line 592C to the reservoir, and the fork ispermitted to descend.

The hydraulic circuit used by the pallet unloading machine isillustrated in FIG. 3,. Again, this circuit is substantially the same asthat shown in FIG. 25 of Patent 2,993,315 and used in the machine ofFIG. 1.

When the pump 197D is operating, fluid is directed through lines599D-561D to port 494D of control valve VB-D. When the fork raisingsolenoid 396]) of pilot valve VA-D is energized, the fluid is directedthrough cross-passage 414D of valve VBD and line 595D to power cylinder992 to raise the fork carriage 901. When the fork lowering solenoid 395Dof pilot valve VA-D is energized, the power cylinder 992 is drained andpressurized fluid is directed through passage 499D and supply line 505Dto the control valve VDD. When there is fluid in supply line 596D andthe solenoid 439D of pilot valve VC-D is energized, the fluid isdirected through cross-passage 453D of valve VD-D and line 519D to thepower cylinder 925 to move the traversing conveyor 897 into alignmentwith the stacker unit 854. If the solenoid 4381) of pilot valve VD-D isenergized when there is fluid in supply line 566D, the fluid is directedthrough passage 459D of valve VDD and line 522D to the power cylinder925 to return the traversing conveyor to a position adjacent the centralunloading station of the machine.

The electric control circuit, for the arrangement of FIG. 1, is shown inFIG. 4. The electric switches are shown in their normal position, asthey were wired by the switch manufacturer. It will be understood,however, that the paddle 871 of the stacker unit 853 is initiallyadjusted so that, when the paddle is in its normal springurged upperposition, the normally closed switch SW35 in circuit 978 is opened.Similarly, the paddle 905 of the unstacker 854 is initially adjusted sothat when the paddle is in its normal, spring-urged upper position, theswitch SW will be actuated to close the normally open contact SW95-1 incircuit 950, and open the normally closed contact SW95-2 in circuit 955.FIG. 27 shows the positions of the various elements of the machines 85dand 851 at the start of a cycle. It will be noted that, in the palletloading machine 850, when the ram 864 is in the load position contactingswitch SW89 to open contact SW89-1 in circuit 973 and close contactSWS9-2 in circuit 975, the full case stop bar 832 is raised, and thefork carriage 866 is in its lowered position holding switch SW84 incircuit .979 closed. In the unloading machine 851, the traversingconveyor 897 is disposed adjacent the central loading station contactingswitch SW92 to hold contact SW92-1 in circuit 962 open and contact SW922in circuit 963 closed, and the fork carriage 991 is in its loweredposition holding switch SW97 in circuit 956 closed.

To put both machines into operation, a master switch SW80 is closed toenergize trunk conductors L1 and L2. The unloader start button 990 andthe loader start button 991, both in circuit 972, are pushed to energizecircuit 972 and energize relays P and M and to close the magneticstarting coil SC-196 of the motor of pump 107C and the starting coil$0107 of the motor of pump 197D. Also, the photo relay SW96 in theunstacker unit 354 is turned on.

Therefore, at the start of a cycle when a pallet loaded with cases ofempty bottles is deposited on the conveyor 860, relays P and M incircuit 972 are energized, relay D in circuit 975 is energized, themagnetic starting coil SC-114 in circuit 950 is energized to start thecase discharge conveyor of the unloader, the magnetic starting coil SCin circuit 953 is energized to start the endless chain section of theunloader stack conveyor, the fork lowering solenoid 395D in circuit 954-is energized, the magnetic starting coil SC-199 in circuit 976 isenergized to start the loaded pallet discharge conveyor 852 of theloading machine, the magnetic starting coil SC-110 in circuit 976 isenergized to start the pallet conveyor 868, the magnetic starting coilSC111 in circuit 977 is energized to start the stack conveyor 858, themagnetic starting coil SC-1l2 in circuit 977 is energized to start thefull case conveyor 875, the solenoid 883 in circuit 979 has beenenergized to pull down the stop bar 882 of the full case conveyor, thefork lowering solenoid 395C in circuit 988 is energized, and the bladesolenoids 870 in circuit 981 are energized.

A pallet loaded with stacks of cases of empty bottles is positioned onthe pallet conveyor 860 by means of a fork lift truck which runs up aramp 944 and temporarily opens switch SWlitlZ in circuit 976 to stop theconveyor 860 while the loaded pallet is positioned thereon. The palletis carried into the machine where it engages switch SW90 to opencontacts SW90-2 in circuit 976 to stop the conveyor 860. Cases of fullbottles are now advanced by the full case conveyor 875. Since the stopbar 882 is already down, the first case is moved into the stacker unit853 to contact and close switch SW81 in circuit 979. Relay V isenergized and locked in through contact V1. Contact V4 in circuit 980 isopened, de-energizing the fork lowering solenoid 395C, and contact V3 incircuit 980 is closed, energizing the fork raising solenoid 396C tostart the upward movement of the fork 867. Contact V2 in circuit 979 isopened to de-energize the solenoid 883 and permit the stop bar to beraised in front of the line of full cases on the full case conveyor 875.

As the fork carriage is elevated, it moves away from switch SW84 incircuit 979, permitting switch SW84 to open. Switch SW82 in DC. circuit985 is closed to energize solenoid 992 to register the first case on thecounter SW114. At the top of its stroke, the fork carriage opens switchSW83 in circuit 979 to de-energize relay V. Contact V3 in circuit 98%)is opened, de-energizing the fork raising solenoid 396C and contact V4-in circuit 980 is closed, energizing the fork lowering solenoid 395D andpermitting the fork to be lowered and switch SW83 to close. The closingof contact V4 in circuit 980 also energizes the solenoids 870 in circuit981 whereby the blades 869 are projected inwardly under the case tosupport the case and permit the fork to continue downward. At the bottomof the stroke, the fork carriage closes switch SW84 in circuit 979,energizing the full case stop bar solenoid 883 to pull down the stop bar882 and permit the full case conveyor 875 to move the second case intothe stacker. The second case contacts and closes switch SW81 in circuit979 to start another case elevating cycle. When the last case has beencounted and contact SW114-1 of switch Sir/114 in circuit 982 has beenclosed, relay C is energized and locked in through contact C3. ContactC1 in circuit 979 is opened to de-energize relay V. Contact V2 incircuit 979 is opened, preventing the lowering of the stop bar 883.Contact V3 in circuit 980 is opened, de-energizing the fork raisingsolenoid 396C. Contact C2 in circuit 981 is opened, de-energizing thefork lowering solenoid 395C and the blade solenoids 878 in circuit 981.Since both the fork raising solenoid and the fork lowering solenoid arede-energized, the hydraulic valve VBC assumes a centered position,permitting the fork power cylinder 868 to drain to the reservoir throughthe needle valve 525C, causing a slow descent of the fork and the stackof cases formed thereon.

When the fork deposits the stack on the full case conveyor 875, thecenter portion of this conveyor moves downwardly to deposit the stack onthe endless chain section 885 of the stack conveyor 858 for removal fromthe stacker. As the cradle of the conveyor moves downwardly, itdepresses through a mechanical linkage, the paddle 871 to close switchSW85 in circuit 978 and energize relay A. Contact A4 in DC. circuit 986is closed to energize the counter reset solenoid 993 to reset casecounter SW114. Contact A3 in circuit 982 opens to de-energize relay C,closing contact C1 in circuit 979. As soon as the stack moves off thepaddle 871, the switch SW in circuit 978 opens, tie-energizing relay A.Contact A1 in circuit 979 closes to energize stop bar solenoid 883 topull down the bar 882 and start the formation of the second stack ofcases.

As the first stack moves along the stack conveyor 858, it momentarilycontacts switches SW88, SW86, and SW87, all in circuit 963, and comes torest against the fixed stops 890. The second stack comes to rest againstthe first stack, holding switch SW87 closed. The third stack closesswitch SW86 and momentarily opens switch SW88. As soon as the thirdstack clears switch SW88, circuit 963 is energized, energizing relay Nwhich locks in through contact N1. Contact N2 in circuit 973 is openedand contact N3 in circuit 974 is closed to energize a coil SC'10'81 of amagnetic starter. When energized, the coil SC-108-1 causes the motor896A of the power screw 892 to rotate the screw in a direction to movethe ram 864 to load the new stacks of cases on the pallet. Coil SC-108-1will hereinafter be referred to as the ram loadingstroke coil. CoilSC-108-2 in circuit 973 causes rotation of the power screw in adirection to retract the ram to its initial position and will bereferred to as the ram retracting coil. Since the ram loading strokecoil SC-1081 is energized by the closing of contact N3 in circuit 974,the ram moves forwardly to push the newly formed line of cases onto thepallet which, as previously mentioned, is loaded with stacks of cases ofempty bottles. The line of cases of empty bottles, which is closest thetraversing section 897 of the unloading machine pallet conveyor, ispushed off the pallet and onto said traversing section. During theforward movement of the ram, the ram carriage contacts and closes switchSW93 in circuit 967, energizing relay K which locks in through contactK1. The line of stacks of cases, that was shifted onto the traversingconveyor section 897, engages and closes switch SW91 in circuit 960 toenergize relay E. Contact E1 in circuit 961 is closed to energize thesolenoid 439D that is effective to cause the traversing conveyor sectionto be moved to unload position in alignment with the unstacker unit.Contact E2 in circuit 962 is opened, de-energizing the solenoid 438Dthat is effective to return the traversing section to position adjacentthe pallet. Contact E3 in circuit 963 is opened, de-energizing relay N.Contact N3 in circuit 974 is opened to dc-energize the ram loadingstroke coil SC*1081, and contact N2 in circuit 973 is closed to energizethe ram retracting coil SC-'1082. As the traversing conveyor section 897moves toward unload position, switch SW92 is released permitting contactSW92-1 in circuit 962 to close. Contact SW922 in circuit 963 is opened.When the traversing conveyor reaches unload position, it contacts andcloses switch SW94 in circuit 959 to energize relay G and to energizethe magnetic starting coil SC-"IM of motor 918 to rotate the rollers ofthe traversing section for advancing the line of stacks into theunstacker unit 854. Contact G1 in circuit 961 opens, de-energizing thetraversing conveyor unload solenoid 439D.

The lines of stacks of empty cases are moved one by one into theunstacker unit 854 where they are unstacked following the previouslyexplained unstacking operation. When the last stack leaving thetraversing section clears switch SW91 in circuit 960, the switch opensde-energizing relay E. Contact E2 in circuit 962 closes to energize thesolenoid 438D whereby the traversing section is returned to the positionadjacent the pallet. When the traversing conveyor reaches this initialposition and contacts switch SW92, cont-act SW921 in circuit 962 isopened, deenergizing the return solenoid 438D. Contact SW92-2 in circuit963 is closed.

When the ram 864 returns to its initial position to await the formationof a new line of stacks of full cases, it contacts switch SW89 closingcontact SW892 in circuit 975 to energize relay D, and to open contactSW89-1 in circuit 973 to de-energize the ram retract coil SC1082.

spasms Contact D2 in circuit 969 is closed, energizing relay B whichlooks in-through contact 53. A new line of stacks is formed by thestacker unit 853 and positioned on the stack conveyor 858jin front ofthe ram 864-, holding switches SW86 and SW87 in circuit 963 closed.Since the traversing conveyor returns to position adjacent the palletwhile this second line of stacks was being formed, contact Sw92-2 incircuit 963 is also closed at this time, and accordingly relay N isenergized. Contact N3 in circuit 974 is closed, energizing the ramloading stroke coil SC-108-'1 to start the ram forward to push thesecond line of stacks of cases of full bottles onto the pallet, forcingthe remaining line of stacks of cases of empty bottles off the palletand onto the traversing conveyor section 897. As the ram advances, theram carriage again closes switch SW93 in circuit 967. Since contact B2in circuit 966 was closed the first time the ram carriage closed switchSW93, relay R in circuit 966 is energized by this second advance of theram carriage. Contact R2 in circuit 970 is closed, energizing solenoid894 which controls the pallet holding stop 893. When the solenoid 894 isenergized, the stop 8-93 is pulled away from the pallet, releasing thepallet for subsequent movement out of the machine on conveyor 852.

The line of stacks of cases of empty bottles, that was shifted onto thetraversing conveyor section 897, engages and closes switch SW91 incircuit 960 to energize relay E. Contact E1 in circuit 961 is closed toenergize the solenoid 439D that is effective to cause the traversingconveyor to be moved to unload position. Contact E3 in circuit 963 isopened, de-energizi-ng relay N. Contact N6 in circuit 974 is opened todc-energize the ram loading-stroke coil SC-108-1, and contact N2 incircuit 973 is closed to energize the ram retracting coil SC-ltlS-Z andstart the ram back to initial position. When the traversing conveyor 897reaches unload position, it contacts and closes switch SW94- in circuit959 to energize relay G and close contact G2 in circuit 976. Then, whenthe ram returns to its initial position to actuate switch SW89 and closecontact Sw89-2 in circuit 975, relay Dis energized. Contact D3 incircuit 976 is closed, energizing the magnetic starter coil 80-110 tostart the motor 937 of the pallet conveyor 860 and cause the pallet,loaded with cases of full bottles, to be moved onto the continuouslyoperating pallet discharge conveyor 852. If another pallet loaded withcases of empty bottles has been positioned by the fork lift truck on theentrance end of the pallet conveyor, it will be moved into theloading-unloading station while the loaded pallet is carried out of themachine on the pallet discharge conveyor 852. When the last stackleaving the traversing conveyor 897 clears the switch SW91 in circuit960, "the switch opens de-energizing relay E and closing contact E2 incircuit 962 to energize solenoid 438D whereby the traversingconveyor isreturned to the position adjacent the pallet.

At the end of the cycle, the ram 864 is in its unload position, the fork867 of the stacker is in its lower position, and the full case stop bar88-2 is lowered. Also, the traversing conveyor 897 of the palletunloader is disposed adjacent the pallet, and the fork carriage 901 ofthe unstacker is in its lowered position. Thus, both the pallet loadingmachine 850 and the pallet unloading machine 851 are ready for the cycleto be repeated.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an apparatus for rapidly and efficiently removingcases from a pallet. The speed of operation is attained throughtheunitary movement of an entire line of stacks of cases from a pallet to aconveyor and vice versa, and by the inter-related automatic controlarrangements which start each step in the unloading operationimmediately after the preceding step has been completed. In theunloading operation, each line of stacks is shifted from the pallet tothe stack conveyor as soon as the previously delivered line has beenshifted along the stack conveyor a distance sufiicient to permit the 8positioning of the new line on the stack conveyor. Also, each stack ismoved into the unstacking unit as soon as the last case of the precedingstack leaves the unstacking unit.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

,1. Apparatus for handling cases or the like comprising an articlesupport member, a first conveyor having an elongate movable conveyingsurface disposed at a certain height in a horizontal plane, a supportstructure adjacent said conveyor, a second conveyor having a conveyingsurface, said second conveyor being mounted on said support structurewith the conveying surface thereof at substantially the height of theconveying surface of said first conveyor and for lateral bodilyreciprocating movement in the plane of said conveying surfaces and in adirection transverse to the longitudinal centerline of said elongatemovable conveying surface, between a position in alignment with saidfirst conveyor and a position adjacent said article support member andspaced from said aligned position and parallel to said elongate movableconveying surface, power means mounted on said support structure andconnected to said second conveyor for reciprocating said second conveyorlaterally between said positions, a pusher member disposed on theopposite side of said article support member from said second conveyorand movable toward said article support member in said transversedirection to operatively engage and shift a row of articles from saidmember over the side edge of said second conveyor and onto the conveyingsurface thereof, control means connected to said power means andarranged to norm-ally dispose said second conveyor in said positionspaced from said aligned position, and means carried by said secondconveyor and arranged upon actuation by a case on said second conveyorto actuate said control means and thereby activate said power means tomove said second conveyor laterally from said spaced position intoalignment with said first conveyor.

2. Apparatus for handling cases or the like comprising an articlesupport member, a first conveyor having an elongate movable conveyingsurface disposed at a certain height, a support structure adjacent saidconveyor, a second conveyor having a movable conveying surface, saidsecond conveyor being mounted on said support structure with theconveying surface thereof at substantially the height of the conveyingsurface of said first conveyor and for lateral bodily reciprocatingmovement in the plane of said conveying surfaces and in a directiontransverse to the longitudinal centerline of said elongate movable"conveying surface between a position in alignment with said firstconveyor and a position adjacent said article support member and spacedfrom said aligned position and parallel to said elongate movableconveying surface, a pusher member disposed on the opposite side of saidarticle support member from said second conveyor and mounted formovement in said transverse direction toward said article support memberto operatively engage and shift a now of articles from said member :overthe side edge of said second conveyor and onto the conveying surfacethereof, first power means for driving said movable conveying surface,first control means for said first power means, second power meansmounted on said support structure and connected to said second conveyorfor reciprocating said second conveyor laterally between said positions,second control means connected to said second power means and arrangedto normally dispose said second conveyor in said position spaced fromsaid aligned position, means carried by said second conveyor andarranged upon actuation by a case on said second conveyor to actuatesaid second control means and thereby activate said second power meansto move said second conveyor laterally from said spaced position intoalignmentwith said first conveyor, and means carried by said secondconveyor and movable therewith to operate said first control means whensaid second conveyor is in alignment with said first conveyor to drivesaid conveying surface of said second conveyor.

3. Apparatus for handling cases or the like comprising a stationarymember having a surface adapted to support a plurality of cases, amovable case carrier mounted for lateral reciprocating movementrelatively to said stationary member in a plane substantially parallelto said surface, a movable conveying surface on said carrier disposed atsubstantially the level of the surface of said stationary member andarranged to be advanced in a certain direction, power means foradvancing said movable conveying surface, means movably mounting saidcarrier for transporting the same and said conveying surface laterallyin a horizontal plane from a case receiving position close to saidstationary member to a case discharge position remote from saidstationary member to carry cases from said receiving position to saiddischarge position, control means mounted adjacent said carrier andarranged upon actuation thereof to activate said power means and advancesaid movable conveying surface, means carried by said carrier foractuating said control means, and pusher means disposed on the oppo siteside of said stationary member from said case carrier and arranged formovement toward said carrier to advance cases onto the support surfaceof said stationary member and move cases therefrom onto said conveyingsurface of said carrier when said carrier is in said receiving position.

4. Apparatus for handling cases or the like comprising a stationarymember having a surface adapted to support a plurality of cases, amovable case carrier mounted for lateral reciprocating movementrelatively to said stationary member in a plane substantially parallelto said surface, a movable conveying surface on said carrier disposed atsubstantially the level of the surface of said stationary member andarranged to be advanced in a certain direction, power means foradvancing said movable conveying surface, means movably mounting saidcarrier for transporting the same and said conveying surface laterallyin a horizontal plane from a case receiving position close to saidstationary member to a case discharge position remote from saidstationary member to carry cases from said receiving position to saiddischarge position, control means mounted adjacent said carrier andarranged upon actuation to activate said power means and advance saidmovable conveying surface, means carried by said carrier for actuatingsaid control means, pusher means disposed on the opposite side of saidstationary member from said case carrier and arranged for movementtoward said carrier to advance cases onto the support surface of saidstationary member and move cases therefrom onto said conveyor surface ofsaid carrier when said carrier is in said receiving position, means fordriving said pusher means, and means mounted adjacent said stationarymember and engageable by said carrier when in case receiving positionand arranged to actuate said pusher drive means and thereby initiatemovement of said pusher means.

5. Apparatus for handling cases, comprising a member having an articlesupport surface, a first conveyor having an elongate movable conveyingsurface at substantially the level of said article support surface, asecond conveyor having an elongate conveying surface parallel to butspaced from the elongate surface of said first con veyor, means mountingsaid first conveyor for bodily movement in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal centerline of said elongate movable conveying surface froma row-receiving position parallel to but spaced from said secondconveyor to a discharge position of alignment with said second conveyor,a pusher disposed on the opposite side of said article support surfacefrom said first conveyor and mounted for movement toward said articlesupport surface in said transverse direction to move a row of articlesfrom said support surface over the side edge of said first conveyor andonto the conveying surface thereof, and power means for actuating theconveying surface of said first conveyor when said conveyors are inalignment to transfer a row of cases lengthwise from said first conveyorto said second conveyor.

6. In article handling apparatus, a first elongate conveyor, a secondconveyor having an elongate article support surface mounted for movementbetween a rowreceiving position spaced from but parallel to said firstelongate conveyor and a discharge position in alignment with said firstconveyor, means providing a second article support surface atsubstantially the elevation of the conveying surface of said secondconveyor, and a pusher disposed on the opposite side of said secondsupport surface from said second conveyor and mounted for movementtoward said second support surface to move a row of articles on saidsecond support surface to the conveying surface of said second conveyorwhen said second conveyor is insaid row-receiving position, said secondconveyor including means for moving articles on said elongate articlesupport surface in a direction lengthwise of said surface onto saidfirst conveyor when said second conveyor is in said discharge position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS11,399,528 Sommers Dec. 6, 1921 1,458,859 Soderberg June 12, 19231,808,134 Gotth-ardt June 2, 1931 1,871,832 Absnieier Aug. 16, 19322,120,751 Jenny June 14, 1938 2,228,887 Peterson Jan. 14, 1941 2,468,055Gibler Apr. 26, 1949 2,661,100 Ashford Dec. 1, 1953 2,703,182 Broberg etal Mar. 1, 1955 2,705,570 Maissian Apr. 5, 1955 2,803,638 Miller Nov.19, 1957 2,885,097 Lyon May 5, 1959

1. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CASES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING AN ARTICLE SUPPORT MEMBER, A FIRST CONVEYOR HAVING AN ELONGATE MOVABLE CONVEYING SURFACE DISPOSED AT A CERTAIN HEIGHT IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, A SUPPORT STRUCTURE ADJACENT SAID CONEYOR, A SECOND CONVEYOR HAVING A CONVEYING SURFACE, SAID SECOND CONVEYOR BEING MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE WITH THE CONVEYING SURFACE THEREOF AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE HEIGHT OF THE CONVEYING SURFACE OF SAID FIRST CONVEYOR AND FOR LATERAL BODILY RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT IN THE PLANE OF SAID CONVEYING SURFACES AND IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL CENTRLINE OF SAID ELONGATE MOVABLE CONVEYING SURFACE, BETWEEN A POSITION IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST CONVEYOR AND A POSITION ADJACENT SAID ARTICLE SUPPORT MEMBER AND SPACED FROM SAID ALIGNED POSITION AND PARALLEL OT SAID ELONGATE MOVABLE CONVEYING SURFACE, POWER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND CONVEYOR FOR RECIPROCATING SAID SECOND CONVEYOR LATERALLY BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, A PUSHER MEMBER DISPOSED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ARTICLE SUPPORT MEMBER FROM SAID SECOND CONVEYOR AND MOVABLE TOWARD SAID ARTICLE SUPPORT MEMBER IN SAID TRANSVERSE DIRECTION TO OPERATIVELY ENGAGE AND SHIFT A ROW OF ARTICLES FROM SAID MEMBER OVER THE SIDE EDGE OF SAID SECOND CONVEYOR AND ONTO THE CONVEYING SURFACE THEREOF, CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID POWER MEANS AND ARRANGED TO NORMALLY DISPOSED SAID SECOND CONVEYOR IN SAID POSITION SPACED FROM SAID ALIGNED POSITION, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SECOND CONVEYOR AND ARRANGED UPON ACTUATION BY A CASE ON SAID SECOND CONVEYOR TO ACTUATE SAID CONTROL MEANS AND THEREBY ACTIVATE SAID POWER MEANS TO MOVE SAID SECOND CONVEYOR LATERALLY FROM SAID SPACED POSITION INTO ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST CONVEYOR. 